Indigenous ceremonies must not be banned: minister

OTTAWA Canada’s Indigenous services minister says banning sacred ceremonies is a “dark stain” on the country’s history and they will be allowed to continue, despite restrictions put in place due to COVID-19.

“Even in the face of a historic pandemic, Canada must not and will not prohibit these important practices,” Marc Miller said.

But Premier Scott Moe maintains there should be no exceptions to the 10-person limit set by the public health order.

“No one should be exempt from these health orders, because quite frankly, no one is exempt from the virus. And that is the world that we are living in here today,” he told reporters Thursday.

Moe said he’s reached out to Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Chief Bobby Cameron to try to work out parameters to host cultural ceremonies safely, the same way the province is working with religious groups on safely hosting ceremonies.

“The public health care orders need to be adhered to, they need to be adhered to in every community across this province,” Moe added.

Concern that ceremonies would again be pushed underground surfaced after RCMP were dispatched to a Saskatchewan First Nation where people were holding a sundance ceremony last weekend. A federal ban on Indigenous ceremonies and potlatches came into place in 1884 and lasted until the 1950s.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Indigenous community leaders know what needs to be done to keep people safe.

“We should be able to work with them to develop ways of continuing with important customs and practices for them in a way that abides by health recommendations,” he said.

RCMP received two reports of a large public gathering on the Beardy’s and Okemasis Cree Nation, about 90 kilometres northeast of Saskatoon, on Sunday.

There were 35 people taking part in the ceremony, but attendees said they were following precautions set by the chief and council, including social distancing and having temperatures taken.

The FSIN, which represents 74 First Nations in Saskatchewan, has said provincial public health orders do not supersede First Nations laws and treaties.

Indigenous Services Canada did not clarify who has jurisdiction to enforce provincial public health orders on First Nations. Spokesperson Leslie Michelson said First Nations leaders are encouraged to consider public health guidelines.

The Canadian Press with files from Ashley Martin